Lakewood Church is giving out almost 9,000 tickets as part of a nationwide effort to fill theaters for the upcoming movie Son of God.

The movie, from the producers of The Voice and The Apprentice, is a feature-length version of the History Channel's successful mini series The Bible and rolls out nationwide Feb. 28.

Church leaders across the country are part of a coordinated effort to ensure theaters are full when it opens.

An anonymous donor at Lakewood Church picked up the tab for 200 tickets per showing for opening weekend at three Regal cinemas in Houston, for a total of 8,800 tickets. Tickets are for Edwards Greenway Palace 24, Edwards Marq'e 23 IMAX and the Regal at West Oaks Mall.

"Having spent time with them on the set, Victoria and I witnessed firsthand the deep and abiding passion they possess for God's word," said Joel Osteen of producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. "They have produced an epic work that tells the story of Jesus and touches the heart."

Lakewood's 5,000 volunteers are being given first dibs on the tickets and spokesperson Don Iloff said it's likely all 8,800 will be taken by them and their families.

Multiplexes in 10 cities across the country are taking part in the effort, some putting Son of God on all their screens for that one night. Crossroads Church in Cincinnati has bought up all 13 screens at their local Cinemark for a special preview night on Feb. 27.

The History Channel's The Bible, by the same producers, hauled in an average of 11.7 million viewers for its Easter finale last year. Son of God will feature some scenes from the mini series and has much of the same cast, including Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado as Jesus.

Reviews for the series were mixed with Variety saying it "was told with great earnestness," while the New York Post said it was "tediously drawn out."